Rep. Patty Mueller

Maddy summaryHF 403 establishes a property tax credit for Minnesota seniors who own and occupy their homes as primary residences. It directly affects residents aged 65 or older (or married couples where one spouse is 65+ and the other is 62+) who have owned and lived in their home since January 2 of the application year. The credit reduces property taxes by comparing the current year’s tax (after other credits) to the previous year’s tax adjusted by 1.08, but cannot lower taxes below $0. Funding for the credit is appropriated annually from the state general fund to reimburse local governments and school districts, effective for 2026 property assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Minnesota's education laws to require more detailed reporting on student reading progress and modifies how state assessments are structured. It directly affects school districts, students in kindergarten through grade 12, and their families by mandating specific screening and data collection practices. Under the new rules, schools must screen all young students three times a year for foundational reading skills and dyslexia characteristics, while also tracking growth data for older students who are not reading at grade level. Additionally, the bill requires districts to include specific literacy data in their annual plans and adjusts state testing requirements to include multiple-choice questions for subjects other than writing. These changes aim to provide clearer information on individual student performance and academic growth across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota School Safety Center to create and distribute evidence-based model safety plans for K-12 schools, requiring districts to adopt similar plans by May 2028. It establishes strict criteria for what counts as "evidence-based," mandating that safety strategies be backed by strong research or well-designed studies before they are implemented. The legislation also enables anonymous threat reporting systems in schools and requires the safety center to consult with licensed mental health professionals when developing these plans. Additionally, the bill modifies grant programs for school buildings and cybersecurity while increasing funding for safe schools initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a previous requirement that assumed a $250 million reduction in special education funding for the 2027-2028 biennium and subsequent years. Under the new provisions, the state commissioner of management and budget will no longer be required to forecast this specific funding cut when preparing revenue and expenditure forecasts. The legislation also removes the mandate that the legislature must identify enacted provisions from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education to offset the assumed funding reduction. If savings from those provisions fall short of $250 million, the commissioner of education would no longer be required to reduce the special education cross subsidy aid factor to make up the difference. The changes take effect the day following final enactment of the bill.

Maddy summaryHF 3493 increases Minnesota's safe schools revenue funding to $36 per adjusted pupil unit for the 2027 fiscal year and later. It expands eligibility to include charter schools, cooperative units, nonpublic schools, and Tribal contract schools - previously limited to traditional public school districts. The bill requires funds to be used for specific safety purposes like security enhancements, counseling services, drug prevention programs, and cybersecurity measures. This policy change directly affects all Minnesota schools receiving state education funding, providing new resources for school safety initiatives. The bill takes effect for fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 60 modifies Minnesota teacher licensure requirements by adding dyslexia training as a mandatory component for license renewal. The bill requires all licensed teachers renewing their licenses under sections 122A.181-122A.184 to complete two hours of free professional development on dyslexia, covering its effects on reading skills, instructional needs, and related health comorbidities. This training must be provided by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board with input from dyslexia specialists, and teachers must complete it once - either during initial licensure or upon renewal. The requirements apply to all renewing teachers and take effect for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2027. The bill also updates renewal conditions for Tier 1 and Tier 2 licenses to include this dyslexia training.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's registered teacher apprenticeship competitive grant program to allow for direct funding instead of the usual reimbursement method. It authorizes the commissioner of labor and industry to provide advance payments to grantees only if they prove that a reimbursement model would cause financial hardship or hinder the program's implementation. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will remain in force until December 31, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time property tax refund program for Minnesota property owners who paid eligible taxes in 2026, affecting residential, agricultural, and commercial property classifications. The program allocates $4 billion from the state general fund to provide refunds based on a percentage calculated by the Department of Revenue, with applications accepted between July 15 and September 15, 2026. Any unclaimed refund amounts will automatically be converted into property tax credits for 2027 on the properties where no refund was requested. The legislation defines specific property categories eligible for the refund and sets clear deadlines for application processing and payment distribution.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax exemption for specific electric generation facilities in Minnesota that produce between 40 and 50 megawatts of power. The exemption applies only to personal property like machinery at facilities that use natural gas as their primary fuel, are owned by municipal power agencies, and are located outside the metropolitan area. To qualify, facilities must be built between January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2030, be within 1,000 feet of an existing natural gas pipeline, address a resource gap identified in state energy planning, and receive approval from local city and county governments. The tax exemption would begin with property taxes payable in 2030 and does not extend to transmission lines, interconnections, or gas pipelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's Read Act to establish a process for districts and publishers to request reviews of new reading curricula. It requires that any curriculum seeking approval demonstrate it meets Read Act requirements, is evidence-based, includes structured literacy components, and incorporates culturally responsive criteria. The legislation sets a fee of up to $3,500 for review services after March 3, 2025, and mandates that alternative programs for students who cannot access sound-based approaches be reviewed alongside traditional curricula.